Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just about being unkind to the less fortunate; it's a profound statement that mocking someone's poverty is essentially mocking God, who made both the rich and the poor. Furthermore, finding joy in another's downfall reveals a deeply twisted heart, showing a disregard for the very Creator who binds us all together.
Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse sits within a larger section of Proverbs contrasting wisdom and folly, and the wicked and the righteous. It follows advice on managing anger and upholding justice, setting a tone of serious ethical consideration. Immediately after this, the text continues to explore themes of sin, righteousness, and the consequences that follow, reinforcing the serious, divinely observed nature of human actions.
Ever made fun of someone down on their luck? The Proverbs writer says that's not just rude – it's deeply offensive to God.
Mocking the Poor
The first part of this verse, 'Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker,' is a powerful statement about our responsibility to one another. When we look down on someone because they have less – less money, less status, less opportunity – we're not just being unkind. We're disrespecting God himself.
Why? Because God is the one who made everyone. He ordained the circumstances, and He identifies with the vulnerable. As the commentators point out, God could have made any of us poor, and He could elevate the poor. To mock the poor is to mock God's creative power and His providential rule over all lives. It’s like looking at a beautiful, intricate piece of art and sneering at the artist.
Think about it: God sees the poor person not just as they are, but as they were designed and made. Our treatment of the least among us reflects our view of the ultimate Creator.
Does someone else's disaster bring a secret smile to your face? The Proverbs writer warns this isn't just petty; it's a path to serious trouble.
Delight in Disaster
The second half of the verse, 'he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished,' tackles a darker aspect of human nature: rejoicing in others' misfortunes. This isn't about feeling satisfied when justice is served to a truly wicked person; it's about deriving pleasure from suffering itself, especially when it happens to others.
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Commentators note that this delight in others' woes, sometimes called 'malicious joy' or 'schadenfreude,' is a deep-seated selfishness. It’s the opposite of empathy and compassion. It suggests a heart that is hardened and perhaps even envious, finding a twisted satisfaction in seeing others brought low.
The verse promises that such a heart will not go unpunished. This doesn't necessarily mean a thunderbolt from the sky, but it points to a divine justice that ensures such malice doesn't ultimately triumph. It speaks to a universal principle: if we delight in the pain of others, we can expect to face our own share of suffering, and perhaps even more, in the grand accounting of life.
Understand the original words
la'ag · Hebrew Verb
To treat with contempt, ridicule, or scorn, especially regarding the status or condition of someone else.
'asah · Hebrew Verb
The Creator of all mankind; by mocking the poor, one is essentially insulting the wisdom and sovereignty of the God who fashioned them.
'eyd · Hebrew Noun
A state of great distress, ruin, or disaster; in Scripture, it often refers to the judgment or unfortunate circumstances that befall someone.
naqah · Hebrew Verb
To be held accountable for one's sins or wrongdoings; it carries the weight of divine justice and the certainty that God will judge moral failings.
This passage is almost identical to the first half of Proverbs 17:5, reinforcing the idea that mocking the poor is an insult to God who created both the rich and the poor.
Job 31:29Job lists his integrity by stating he never rejoiced when his enemy suffered misfortune, highlighting the sinfulness of being glad at the calamity of others as described in Proverbs 17:5.
Luke 6:37Jesus teaches, 'Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven,' which echoes the principle that harsh judgment and rejoicing in others' suffering will not go unpunished.
Ezekiel 25:6God declares judgment on the Ammonites for their malicious glee over Jerusalem's destruction, showing a divine consequence for taking pleasure in the downfall of others.
Romans 12:15This verse instructs believers to 'Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep,' contrasting sharply with the heart that is glad at calamity and showing the Christian call to empathy over schadenfreude.
bensonProverbs 17:5: "Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished."
Proverbs 17:5 . Whoso mocketh the poor — See on Proverbs 14:31 ; and he that is glad at calamities — At the miseries of other men; shall not be unpunished — The cup shall be put into his hands, Ezekiel 25:6-7 .
ellicottProverbs 17:5: "Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished."
(5) Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker. —See above on Proverbs 14:31 . He that is glad at calamities.—Of enemies. (Comp. Proverbs 24:18; Job 31:29.)
The verse isn't just about being unkind to the less fortunate; it's a profound statement that mocking someone's poverty is essentially mocking God, who made both the rich and the poor. Furthermore, finding joy in another's downfall reveals a deeply twisted heart, showing a disregard for the very Creator who binds us all together.
This verse sits within a larger section of Proverbs contrasting wisdom and folly, and the wicked and the righteous. It follows advice on managing anger and upholding justice, setting a tone of serious ethical consideration. Immediately after this, the text continues to explore themes of sin, righteousness, and the consequences that follow, reinforcing the serious, divinely observed nature of human actions.
This verse sits within a larger section of Proverbs contrasting wisdom and folly, and the wicked and the righteous. It follows advice on managing anger and upholding justice, setting a tone of serious ethical consideration. Immediately after this, the text continues to explore themes of sin, righteousness, and the consequences that follow, reinforcing the serious, divinely observed nature of human actions.
"Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished." — The verse isn't just about being unkind to the less fortunate; it's a profound statement that mocking someone's poverty is essentially mocking God, who made both the rich and the poor. Furthermore, f…
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Last reviewed October 2026